Bilkent University Student's Name:
HUM 111
Fall 2011
Dr. Louise Barry Midterm 1
12.5 % point value of assignment

Questions for Midterm 1, on Epic of Gilgamesh, Fall 2011, Dr. Louise Barry
You are to write a 3-page (double-spaced, Times New Roman, MLA style) answer on ONE of the following topics. Keep in mind the grading criteria while you are writing!

1. At one point in the Genealogy of Morals, Friedrich Nietzsche considers the claim that ‘the meaning of all culture is the reduction of the beast of prey ‘man’ to a tame and civilized animal, a domest animal. Discuss this image of civilization as the ‘taming’ of what is wild and aggressive. What are the positive and negative implications? What does it mean to be ‘domesticated’? Think of Gilgamesh in relation to this quote: is he civilized or domesticated?

2. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh initially seeks immortality through fame. Following Enkidu’s death, he becomes fearful of the physical reality of death and seeks real immortality. Discuss the role of fear in Gilgamesh’s quest? Is it constructive or destructive? You can also refer to any attempts of memorialization (such as building statues, monuments, writing texts etc.), as a means of warding off death (or at least the fear of death!)

3. At the end of the story is there any irony in Gilgamesh’s return journey to Uruk? Does the end make us feel sorry for Gilgamesh? What can be inferred for us? What is the meaning of Gilgamesh’s second chance? How is the phenomenon of the second chance used in the story? What can we infer?

4. In the Epic of Gilgamesh Humbaba is the protector of the Cedar Forest and represents the mysterious power of nature. Enkidu, who owes his origins to nature, can be called the son of nature. If the forest represents the dark and